# 2022 FireKeepers Casino 400

The 2022 FireKeepers Casino 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on August 7, 2022, at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Contested over 200 laps on the two-mile (3.2 km) D-shaped oval, it was the 23rd race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.

## Report
### Background

The race was held at Michigan International Speedway, a two-mile (3.2 km) moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located in Brooklyn, Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is known as a "sister track" to Texas World Speedway as MIS's oval design was a direct basis of TWS, with moderate modifications to the banking in the corners, and was used as the basis of Auto Club Speedway. The track is owned by International Speedway Corporation. Michigan International Speedway is recognized as one of motorsports' premier facilities because of its wide racing surface and high banking (by open-wheel standards; the 18-degree banking is modest by stock car standards).
Prior to the race, it was announced Kurt Busch remains under medical suspension following his crash during second-round qualifying at Pocono. Ty Gibbs will remain in the 45 car.

#### Entry list

* (R) denotes rookie driver.
* (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
| No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
| 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford |
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 16 | Noah Gragson (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 33 | Austin Hill (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 45 | Ty Gibbs (i) | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 77 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford |
| 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet |
| Official entry list ||||

## Practice

Kyle Busch was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 38.138 seconds and a speed of 188.788 mph (303.825 km/h).

### Practice results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Time | Speed |
| 1 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 38.138 | 188.788 |
| 2 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 38.210 | 188.432 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 38.298 | 187.999 |
| Official practice results |||||||

## Qualifying

Bubba Wallace scored the pole for the race with a time of 37.755 and a speed of 190.703 mph (306.907 km/h). This was his first career pole in the Cup Series.

### Qualifying results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 |
| 1 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 37.902 | 37.755 |
| 2 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 37.905 | 37.915 |
| 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 37.890 | 37.921 |
| 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 38.050 | 37.993 |
| 5 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 38.070 | 38.005 |
| 6 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.074 | 38.090 |
| 7 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 38.122 | 38.151 |
| 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.051 | 38.175 |
| 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 38.041 | 38.209 |
| 10 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.237 | 38.336 |
| 11 | 45 | Ty Gibbs (i) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 38.218 | — |
| 12 | 16 | Noah Gragson (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 38.248 | — |
| 13 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.270 | — |
| 14 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 38.287 | — |
| 15 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 38.306 | — |
| 16 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 38.333 | — |
| 17 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 38.380 | — |
| 18 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 38.385 | — |
| 19 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 38.448 | — |
| 20 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.463 | — |
| 21 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 38.482 | — |
| 22 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 38.502 | — |
| 23 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 38.526 | — |
| 24 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 38.551 | — |
| 25 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.617 | — |
| 26 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.639 | — |
| 27 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 38.641 | — |
| 28 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 38.697 | — |
| 29 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 38.803 | — |
| 30 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.814 | — |
| 31 | 33 | Austin Hill (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 38.875 | — |
| 32 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 38.940 | — |
| 33 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 38.997 | — |
| 34 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 39.021 | — |
| 35 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 39.308 | — |
| 36 | 77 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 39.308 | — |
| 37 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 39.317 | — |
| Official qualifying results |||||||

## Race
### Stage Results

Stage One Laps: 45
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 9 |
| 3 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 3 |
| 9 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 2 |
| 10 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage one results ||||||
Stage Two Laps: 75
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 10 |
| 2 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 7 |
| 5 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 1 |
| Official stage two results ||||||

### Final Stage Results

Stage Three Laps: 80
| Pos | Grid | No | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 16 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 200 | 43 |
| 2 | 1 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 200 | 35 |
| 3 | 9 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 53 |
| 4 | 4 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford | 200 | 34 |
| 5 | 7 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 200 | 38 |
| 6 | 24 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford | 200 | 31 |
| 7 | 8 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 38 |
| 8 | 10 | 43 | Erik Jones | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 42 |
| 9 | 30 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 31 |
| 10 | 11 | 45 | Ty Gibbs (i) | 23XI Racing | Toyota | 200 | 0 |
| 11 | 13 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 26 |
| 12 | 20 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 31 |
| 13 | 26 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 28 |
| 14 | 25 | 42 | Ty Dillon | Petty GMS Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 23 |
| 15 | 33 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford | 200 | 28 |
| 16 | 19 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford | 200 | 27 |
| 17 | 21 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 20 |
| 18 | 31 | 33 | Austin Hill (i) | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 |
| 19 | 32 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 18 |
| 20 | 23 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 200 | 18 |
| 21 | 36 | 77 | Josh Bilicki (i) | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet | 200 | 0 |
| 22 | 34 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 200 | 15 |
| 23 | 35 | 78 | B. J. McLeod (i) | Live Fast Motorsports | Ford | 199 | 0 |
| 24 | 22 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 199 | 18 |
| 25 | 15 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Trackhouse Racing Team | Chevrolet | 198 | 21 |
| 26 | 2 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 193 | 28 |
| 27 | 37 | 38 | Todd Gilliland (R) | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 188 | 10 |
| 28 | 14 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford | 187 | 9 |
| 29 | 6 | 8 | Tyler Reddick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 110 | 8 |
| 30 | 12 | 16 | Noah Gragson (i) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 109 | 0 |
| 31 | 17 | 41 | Cole Custer | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 94 | 6 |
| 32 | 27 | 21 | Harrison Burton (R) | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford | 29 | 5 |
| 33 | 28 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet | 25 | 4 |
| 34 | 18 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford | 25 | 3 |
| 35 | 29 | 15 | J. J. Yeley (i) | Rick Ware Racing | Ford | 24 | 0 |
| 36 | 3 | 18 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 24 | 1 |
| 37 | 5 | 2 | Austin Cindric (R) | Team Penske | Ford | 24 | 1 |
| Official race results ||||||||

### Race statistics

* Lead changes: 15 among 10 different drivers
* Cautions/Laps: 7 for 36
* Red flags: 0
* Time of race: 2 hours, 54 minutes and 8 seconds
* Average speed: 137.825 miles per hour (221.808 km/h)

## Media
### Television

USA covered the race on the television side. two-time Michigan winner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte called the race from the broadcast booth. Kim Coon, Parker Kligerman and Marty Snider handled the pit road duties from pit lane.
USA :
| Booth announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lap-by-lap: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Color-commentator: Jeff Burton Color-commentator: Steve Letarte | Kim Coon Parker Kligerman Marty Snider |

### Radio

Radio coverage of the race was broadcast by Motor Racing Network (MRN) and simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden and Jeff Striegle called the race in the booth while the field was racing on the front stretch. Dave Moody called the race from a billboard outside of turn 2 when the field is racing through turns 1 and 2. Mike Bagley called the race from a platform outside of turn 3 when the field races through turns 3 and 4. Steve Post, Chris Wilner, Dillon Welch and Jason Toy worked pit road for the radio side.
MRN :
| Booth announcers | Turn announcers | Pit reporters |
| Lead announcer: Alex Hayden Announcer: Jeff Striegle | Turns 1 & 2: Dave Moody Turns 3 & 4: Mike Bagley | Steve Post Chris Wilner Dillon Welch Jason Toy |

## Standings after the race

| | Pos | Driver | Points |
| | 1 | Chase Elliott | 847 |
| | 2 | Ryan Blaney | 728 (–119) |
| | 3 | Ross Chastain | 710 (–137) |
| | 4 | Martin Truex Jr. | 709 (–138) |
| | 5 | Kyle Larson | 705 (–142) |
| 1 | 6 | Joey Logano | 673 (–174) |
| 1 | 7 | Christopher Bell | 668 (–179) |
| | 8 | Kyle Busch | 634 (–213) |
| 1 | 9 | Kevin Harvick | 618 (–229) |
| 1 | 10 | William Byron | 617 (–230) |
| 1 | 11 | Alex Bowman | 572 (–275) |
| 1 | 12 | Tyler Reddick | 557 (–290) |
| | 13 | Daniel Suárez | 556 (–291) |
| 3 | 14 | Erik Jones | 538 (–309) |
| | 15 | Chase Briscoe | 533 (–314) |
| 2 | 16 | Austin Cindric | 531 (–316) |
| Official driver's standings ||||
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points |
| 1 | Chevrolet | 847 |
| 2 | Ford | 778 (–69) |
| 3 | Toyota | 765 (–82) |